Justice Department, FBI Debate Whether to Charge Everyone Involved in the Capitol Riots: WaPo



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Department of Justice and FBI officials are reportedly discussing whether everyone who stormed the Capitol on January 6 should be charged, with some arguing that charges should not be laid for those who did not. have not engaged in violent behavior.

The Washington Post reported on internal deliberations on Saturday, citing several people familiar with the discussions. The Post added that discussions on such a move are in their infancy, with no formal position taken on the issue.

The sources, who spoke on condition of anonymity to freely discuss the legal deliberations, reportedly told the Post that some federal officials had raised logistical concerns about the cases invading the local courthouse. Authorities estimate that around 800 people stormed the Capitol during the deadly pro-Trump riot.

Individuals have been arrested in several states in connection with the attack, but each case is being prosecuted by the Office of the United States Attorney for the District of Columbia.

On Saturday, the Justice Department has already indicted more than 135 people for committing crimes on or around the Capitol, with more charges expected in the weeks and months to come.

Some federal officials have also proposed internally that people who were only known to have made an illegal entry and who did not engage in any violent behavior should not be charged, the newspaper said.

However, other officials rejected the proposal, saying the importance of using the charges to send a message that similar actions in the future will not be tolerated.

The sources told the Post that they are sensitive to the fact that the credibility of the Department of Justice and the FBI could be called into question by such a decision.

Justice Department spokesman Marc Raimondi said in an email to The Post: “The Justice Department is committed to holding accountable anyone who intentionally engages in criminal acts on Capitol Hill.”

“We have always made it clear that we will follow the facts and evidence and charge individuals accordingly,” Raimondi added. “We remain confident that the US District Court in Washington, DC can properly handle the case related to any resulting charges.”

The Hill has contacted the Justice Department and the FBI for further comment.

Trump supporters stormed the Capitol on January 6 after the former president encouraged a crowd from the National Mall to march towards the Capitol and demanded that Congress end the certification of President Biden’s college victory electoral.

At the time, Congress was debating an objection to the election results in the state of Arizona.

In the past, Trump has repeated a false claim that the election was “stolen” from him and that the election was “rigged.”

Five people died in the chaos, including a Capitol Hill police officer who was injured responding to the riots, as well as a woman shot dead by an undercover police officer.



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